Seasonal Greetings, various artists (Mobilé Records)

Subtitled "A Compilation of 13 Christmas and Winter Songs," this almost counts as an ambient Christmas album, in that it evokes the lonlieness of winter with a cast of characters that actually originates in places where winter is severe: Minnesota's Low, Iceland's Müm, Norway's Erlend Øye, Britain's Badly Drawn Boy, and so on. Low's "Long Way Around the Sea" is from their seminal Christmas CD, of course, while Erlend Øye takes a disappointed approach to Wham's "Last Christmas." St. Etienne's previously released "My Christmas Prayer" makes an appearance here, and Badly Drawn Boy's "Donna and Blitzen" may be the most uptempo item here, from the film "About a Boy," and it's about reindeer to boot. "Winter Will Set You Back," sings Hood, and this folky drone sounds like it's not doing him any favors either. "Catch a Snowflake" from Herrmann and Kleine is an electronic rendition of a very wintry melody; it and Future 3's "It's That Time Again" are probably the most successful of the electronic tracks on this. There won't be much rockin' out with these guys, but if you're up for this particular vibe at Christmastime, it's a great way to celebrate (quietly). Out of print, but copies come up via 3rd parties at Amazon.